Sound personal finances are just one of the factors for civilian
employees seeking or holding security clearances, a necessary status for many who
work for the military.

Now, with civilians Department of Defense employees facing a 20 percent pay reduction due to
furloughs, the military is offering information on what to do if the change in
salary causes financial hardship that could jeopardize security clearances.

In a memo sent to Army civilian employees last week, officials
said they recognize the 22-week furloughs could have "financial repercussions,"
for those with security clearances. If the hardship is due to the furlough,
civilian employees are advised to self-report the issue to the Personnel Security
Officer.

The command "will consult with individuals on a case-by-case
basis to help them navigate these possible financial issues during this
difficult period," according to the memo.

Normally, a security clearance could be jeopardized by what
the Army says is a "failure or inability to live within one's means."
Situations such as bankruptcy, a history of not meeting financial obligations
or issues with taxes could jeopardize security clearance.

Army policy already allows some flexibility if financial
hardships are related to unexpected medical emergencies, a death or divorce or if an
individual shows a good-faith effort to repay the debts.

The Department of Defense said sequestration's $50 billion
in across-the-board cuts will necessitate furloughs for most of its 800,000 civilian
employees, 251,000 in the Army alone. Some 27,000 civilian military employees in Alabama will be impacted
by the furloughs, an estimated loss of more than $1.9 billion to the state. The
one-day-a-week furloughs are expected to begin in April.